Typewriter desk



29, 9 G. F. DURA'RD ,3

v 4 TYPEWRITER DESK Filed April 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .3; 650265127ueme0 QTTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. G. DURARD 1,838,613

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed April 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 43a, /z' i' /2T 7 firronyly Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE F. DURARD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F CITE-FOURTH TO FRANK L. A. GRAHAM, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER DESK Application filed April 24,

' in a manner such that the person using the desk need not change his position in using the machine.

The desk may be considered as havmg an auxiliary top or shelf which is below the level of the top surface of the desk, and which provides a working space having a width equal to that of the desk, and in the same plane with the base of the machine when the machine is in use.

It is a primary object of this invention to present a desk of the class described, WhlCh provides ample knee space when the machine is in a position of disuse, and m whlch the machine supporting board or table is supported by means of spring actuated levers arranged to assist in the movement of the board from a closed to'an open position, and adapted to exert a holding force upon the board when it is in the two extreme positions of its movement.

It has been a further object of this invention to develop a supporting mechanism for the machine or typewriter table which will absorb the vibration and shock from the machine, greatly decreasing the noise attending its operation and also tending to reduce the wear between the parts thereof.

Other objects and advantageous structural features in mv invention. including guide members for directing the movement of the machine supporting table during a raising or lowering thereof, will be better understood from the following detail description of an illustrative embodiment of my invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desk embodying my invention. showing the typewriter or machine supporting table in a position of use.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, taken in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2, and showing 1928. Serial No. 272,419.

the table supporting lever system in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, but showing the machin supporting table as being drawn forward ready to be lowered into a position of disuse, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 4;, but showing the machine supporting table in a lowered position and the parts of the desk top arranged to form a flat top desk.

More particularly describing the details in the construction of that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, reference numeral 11 indicates a desk having an upper top 12 (comprising sections 12a and 12b) and an auxiliary machine supporting top or shelf 13 upwardly mounted therein below the top 12. The top sections 1211 and 12?) are connected by hinges 120. These hinges may be of any preferred form, but are preferably constructed in a manner such that the top sections are drawn into tight engagement when the top is closed.

The auxiliary top 13 comprises end sections 14 and 14 and a central machine supporting section 15, which will be hereinafter designated as a machine supporting table, and is illustrated as supporting a typewriter 16. shown in dotted lines.

The machine supporting table 15 is pivotally suported in the same plane with end sections 14 and 14 by means of two similar systerms of levers 17 and 17 mounted below 01)- posite edges of the board 15, and supported uponinner panels 18 and 18 of the desk body 11.

The lever systems 17 and 17 may be enclosed by suitable shields or casings 19 and 19', which are supported from the inner panels in an preferred manner.

These ever systems 17 and 17 which are both structurally and functionally identical, are best illustrated by the construction shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, which includes a ed upon the bottom of the machine supporting table 15.

A supporting link 23 is pivoted to the front lever arm at an intermediate point 24, from which it extends rearwardly and downwardly to the lower end 25 of a suspended lever arm 26, which is pivoted at 27 to the rear end of the table supporting bracket 22.

A rear supporting lever 28 is pivoted at 29 to the lower back section of panel 18, and the upper end of this lever is pivoted to an intermediate supporting link 30, the front end of which intermediate link is pivoted to the intersecting point 25 between the supporting link 23 and the suspended lever arm 26.

A coil spring 31, which may be'termed an initial lifting spring, is attached to the upper rear portion of panel 18 in any preferred manner at a point 32, and the lower end of the spring is fastened to the intermediate supporting lever 30 at a point 33 near the rear end thereof.

The levers of the system are so formed and the spring 31 so positioned that when the table 15 is moved slightly beyond the neutral position shown in Fig. 5, the spring 31 will have a lifting action thereon, greatly increasing the ease with which the machine supporting table may be drawn to an upper position.

A second spring 34, which may be termed a final lifting spring, is interposed between a point 35 near the forward end of the bracket 22 and a point 36 near the lower end of the suspended lever 26. This spring gives a final lifting movement to the table 22, and it will be apparent that the arrangement of the springs 31 and 34 is such that very little effort is required for the horizontal placement of the machine supporting table 15. These springs also receive much of the vibration from the operation of the machine on the table, with the attending advantages mentioned above.

A panel or guide member 37, having a cam surface 38, is supported beneath the top of the table adjacent to the inner surface of panel 17 in any preferred manner, and serves the dual purpose of providing a guide for the upward movement of the rear edge 39 of the supporting table 15 and a supporting iedge or shoulder 40 for the rear portion of the table when it is in a final position, as indicated Fig. 3.

The t. .5, when in a horizontal posiiion, is vd by notch or recess 41 in the front 0 desk, and the front of the top section Tim; is provided with a downwardly e-'"endin cl 42, which extends down to top 13, as shown in Fig. 5, and

11611 43, which is reing an even and m. the machine is A pair of inner panels illustrated at 45 and 45 may be placed between the lower or auxiliary top 13 and the rear section 126 this section is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 5.

A vertical partition 48 may be placed between the main top 12 and the auxiliary top 13, to prevent articles on the auxiliary top from being pushed to an inaccessible position beneath the back section of the main top.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying illustrations that this desk embodies many advantageous structural features over typewriter desks commonly used, chief among which are the shock absorbing feature of the table support, the machine supporting table having end sections in the same plane with the base of the machine, and the table lifting operation of the lever system.

Although I have limited the description of this invention to a single embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not confined to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its scope any changes which fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A desk construction comprising: a desk having a substantially flat main top extending over the entire length and width of the desk; an auxiliary top below said main top, havlng a central machine supporting section; and lever means for supporting said central section in substantially the same plane with the ends of said auxiliary top, said lever system comprising forward supporting levers pivotally mounted on said desk and supporting the front of said central section, rear supporting levers pivotaliy mounted near the back of said. desk, and. interconnecting links for transmitting the w ght of said central section to said suppo said interconnecting iinkc com ended lever arm pi'vo"" y mo the rear of said central section, link extending from the lower and s ended lever to an intcrrnedia ting lever having a substantially fiat main top extend- 1ng over the entire length and width of the desk; an auxiliary top below said main top, having a central machine supporting section;

lever means forsupporting said central secthe lower end of said suspended lever to an intermediate point on the front supporting lever, and an intermediate link extending rearwardly from the lower end of said suspended lever to the upper end of said rear supporting lever; and resilient means 0perable' with said links for imparting upward movement to said central section.

3. A system of levers for supporting a desk top of the class described comprising: a forward supporting lever pivotally. mounted upon said desk and supporting the front of said desk top; a rear supporting lever pivotally mounted near the back of said desk; a suspended lever arm pivotally mounted upon the rear of said top; a supporting link extending from the bottom of said suspended lever to an intermediate point on said forward supporting lever; and an intermediate lever extending from the bottom of said suspended lever to the top of said rear supporting lever.

4. A system of levers for supporting a desk top of the class described comprising: a forward supporting lever pivotally mounted upon said desk and supporting the front of said desk top; a rear supporting lever pivotally mounted near the back of said desk: interconnecting links for transmitting the weight of the back of said top to said supporting levers, comprising a suspended lever arm pivotally mounted at the rear of said top on the lower surface thereof, a. support ing link extending from the lower end of said suspended lever to the upper end of said rear supporting lever; a spring supported by said desk and connected with said supporting link for imparting an initial upward movement to said central section; and another spring connected with said central section and said suspended lever for imparting a final upward movement to said central section. a v

5. A system of levers for supporting a desk top of the class described comprising:

forward supporting levers pivotally mounted upon said desk and supporting the front of said desk top; rear supporting levers pivotally mounted near the back of said desk; and interconnecting links for transmitting the weight of the back of said top to said supporting levers, said interconnecting links comprising a suspended lever arm pivotally mounted on the rear of said top, a supporting link extending from the lowerend of said suspended lever arm to an intermediate point on the front supporting lever, and an intermediate leverextending rearwardly from the lower end of said suspended lever to the upper end of said rear supporting lever.

6. A system of levers for supporting the central section of a desk top of the class de scribed comprising: a forward supporting lever pivotally mounted upon said'disk and supporting the front of said central section; a rear supporting lever pivotally mounted near the back of said desk; interconnecting links for transmitting the weight of the back of said central section to said supporting levers, comprising a suspended lever arm pivotally mounted at the rear of said central section on the lower surface thereof, a supporting link extending from the lower end of said suspended lever to the upper end of said rear supporting lever; a spring supported by said desk and connected with said supporting link or imparting an initial upward movement to said central section; and another spring connected with said central section and said suspended lever for imparting a final upward movement to said central section. i

7. In a desk construction, a typewriter table adapted to be raised and lowered, a first pair of links pivotally connecting the table to the desk, a second pair of links pivotally connected to the table, a third pair of links pivotally connected to the links of the second pair and the links of the first pair, and a fourth pair of links ivotally connected to one of said pairs of lin rs, and means movably connecting the links of the fourth pair to the desk whereby the table-may be raised and lowered by moving on andrelatively to the links ofthe first pair.

8. In a desk construction, a typewriter table adapted to be raised and lowered, a first pair of links pivotally connectingthe table to the desk, a second pair of lin s pivotally connected tothe table, a third pair of links pivotally connected to the links of the second pair and the links of the first pair, and a fourth pair of links pivotally connected to one of said pairs of links, and means movably connecting the links of the fourth pair to the desk whereby the table may be raised and lowered by moving on and relatively to the links of the first pair, and means providing stationary supports adapted to be engaged by the underside of the table to support the same when in its uppermost position.

9. In a desk construction, a typewriter table adapted to be raised and lowered, a first pair of links pivotally connecting the table to the desk, :1 second pair of links pivotally connected to the table, a third pair of links pivotally connected to the links of the second pair and the links of the first pair, and a fourth pair of links pivotally connected to one of said pairs of links, and means movably connecting the links of the fourth pair to the desk whereby the table may be raised and lowered by moving on and relatively to the links of the first pair, and springs exerting a tension upon some of said links so as to assist in raising the typewriter table into its uppermost position.

10. In a desk construction, a typewriter table adapted to be raised and lowered, links pivotally connected to the table and to the desk, a guide for the rear edge of the table,

and means providing stationary supports for the front and back of the table on which the table is adapted to rest when in its uppermost position.

11. In a desk construction, a typewriter table adapted to be raised and lowered, links pivotally connected to the table and to the desk, a guide for the rear edge of the table, and means providing a stationary support on which the forward end of the table is adapted to rest when in its uppermost position, means providing an upper table top having a movable part adapted to cover the typewriter table when in its lowered position, said movable part having supporting means adapted to engage said stationary sup- )ort. I 12. A desk construction having drawer compartments at its sides, a lower table top supported thereon having a portion removed from its forward edge rearwardly between the drawer compartments providing a typewriter table receiving space, a typewriter table movable into and out of said space, an upper table top formed of relatively movable sections, 'one of which is stationarily mounted over the lower table top and the other of which may be moved into a position covering the lower table top and typewriter table receiving space or into a position remote therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 10th day of April, 1928.

GEORGE F. DURARD. 

